Words Of Wisdom

"[T]here exists in the economy and course of nature, an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness; between duty and advantage; between the genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy, and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity."

 --George Washington, First Inaugural Address, 1789

Words Of Wisdom

"Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."

 --George Washington (Farewell Address, 1796)

Beach Testing Results

McHenry County Department of Health conducted beach waer samplings at 37 licensed beaches on Wenesday, August 15. Sampling results are as follows: due to elevated bacteria levels:

Indian Trails, Woods Creek Lake, Lake in the Hills - CLOSED

Wonder Woods, 5200 Wonder Woods Drive, Wonder Lake -CLOSED

Veterans Park, 332 W. State Road, Island Lake, --ADVISORY

These beaches will be re-sampled. To prevent illness associated with swimming, all licened beaches on the 13 lakes in McHenry County are tested every 2 weeks for E coli throughout the summer to determine water quality. Additional and more frequent sampling is done when elevated bacterial levels are found.

Water sampling results are reportd to the appropriate beach authorities. MCDH will post an advisory or closed signage for beachs with elevated E coli results. All beach water results and locations are readily available at the MCDH webpage www.mcdh.info (click Environmental Health, quick links "beach testing results) or call 815-334-4585.

Another Party Heard From

Libertarians presidential candidate Two-Term Governor Gary Johnson and vice presidential candidate Judge James (Jim) Gray will now appear on the November general election ballot in 34 states, as Maine, New Jersey, and Wisconsin were added to the list.

Petitions have been submitted in 10 states, including New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, and the District of Columbia. Petitions are due in Tennessee next Thursday, and in Iowa on Friday.

The Johnson/Gray ticket will be on the ballot in all - or nearly all - 50 states plus Washington D.C.

Government At Work

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17—

McHenry County Senior Services Grant Commission –

Meeting in the County Board conference Room, McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

The Commission will consider interviews and review of proposals for the 2013 Fiscal Year Program.

Rakow Road Update

Weather permitting, westbound traffic will be moved onto the new lanes on Monday, August 20th. 

After that, the lanes on the side streets will be shifted in the following days.  You will start to see new pavement markings being placed on the new westbound lanes - but the lanes are closed, the markings are to prepare for the traffic switch on Monday. 

Please pay attention to the new signs and pavement markings that will be in place, especially when turning onto Rakow Road from the side streets.  This shift in traffic will allow the remaining work to be completed in the median areas further indicating that we are nearing the end of this important improvement project!

Please check out www.rakowroad.com for details.

 

Thank you again for your continued patience!

Words Of Wisdom

"The foundation of national morality must be laid in private families. ... How is it possible that children can have any just sense of the sacred obligations of morality or religion if, from their earliest infancy, they learn their mothers live in habitual infidelity to their fathers, and their fathers in as constant infidelity to their mothers?"

 --John Adams, Diary, 1778

Government At Work - Thursday August 16

7:30 a.m. – McHenry County Mental Health Board –

Special Meeting of the Mental Health Board, meeting in the Main Conference room of the Mental Health Building, 620 Dakota Street, Crystal Lake.

An executive session as needed regarding personnel matters.

Future meeting of the Board are also being scheduled including Thursday, September 12, 7:30 a.m. regarding Substance Abuse, Psychiatry and Outpatient.

A meeting is also being scheduled for Thursday, October 11, 7:30 a.m. regarding residential, community support, and ancillary.  

8:30 a.m. – McHenry County Board Planning & Development Committee –

Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

The Committee will be interviewing two people for appointment to the McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals. Included are John O. White and Linnea Koositra.

A third interviewee, Jacaqueline Kaufmann, is seeking appointment to the McHenry County Housing Commission.

Discussion is scheduled on UDO Process and Schedule and the Leuth Subdivision Final Plat.

A resolution for an intergovernmental agreement between the County of McHenry County and the village of Trout Valley is being presented for approval.

Also, an Ordinance to Designate the Trout Valley Swimming Pool as a local historic landmark, pursuant to the McHenry County Historic Preservation Ordinance is being presented for the Committee’s approval.

10:00 a.m. – McHenry County Board Special Meeting –

Meeting in the County Board Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

Two resolutions are being presented to the Board for consideration. The first is requesting the submission of a question of public policy to the electors of McHenry County regarding the Method of selection of the County Board Chairman.

The second resolution is requesting the submission of an advisory question of public policy to the electors of McHenry County on holding two or more elected offices simultaneously.

7:30 p.m. – Crystal Lake Park Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting –

Meeting in the District Administrative Office, One E. Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake.

A public hearing is the first agenda item, following comments from the public. This hearing is regarding the intent of the Board of Commissioners to sell $3 million in General Obligation Park Bonds. This is an opportunity for any public to comment on the proposal.

The Board is being requested to approve a Consent Agenda item, a request for a Katherine Esser 5K Fundraiser Request.

Other matters include approval of minutes, approval of voucher lists.

Blast On The Beach -- Saturday -- Crystal Lake Main Beach

Not many other area summer festivals can boast such an incredible line up of fun and entertainment as the Crystal Lake Park District/BMO Harris Bank Blast on the Beach.

The 2012 Blast on the Beach on Saturday, August 18, 3-7 pm at Crystal Lake Main Beach (300 Lakeshore Drive, Crystal Lake), offers something for everyone in the family-mom & dad can stroll through the arts & craft fair, enjoy the beer and wine garden and get in on the Bags Tournament, while the kids will enjoy the fun fair and the treasure hunt in the sand (for gold coins and prizes!).

Everyone will have the chance to enjoy great festival food from local vendors, live music by Mr. Myers and a water ski show presented by the Crystal Lake Water Ski Association. What makes this festival even more exciting is that admission is free to everyone courtesy of BMO Harris Bank.

No other local festival can boast the beautiful lake surroundings and such diverse entertainment as Blast on the Beach. Taking full advantage of the lake setting, park district staff decided to pursue offering a water ski show as part of the entertainment slate.

Naturally, staff sought out the services of Crystal Lake Park District Affiliate Group, the Crystal Lake Water Ski Association (CLWSA). CLWSA is considered a recreational club but has a number of members that have competed or still compete in 3-Event competition (slalom, trick, and jump) and other members that compete in barefoot competition.

Rick Ridenour, President of CLWSA, said "We at CLWSA are very excited about the opportunity to perform at the Blast on the Beach Ski Show. With a large audience expected, we are making big plans to incorporate a theme, costumes and audience interaction in our show. The Super Heroes vs. the Villain theme should be a lot of fun for the audience and the skiers. Our sponsor, Skipper Buds Marina of Volo, IL is providing us with a guest skier, Justin Doornbos, who formerly rode on the Pro Wakeboard tour. Justin should be a real crowd pleaser with his high flying inverted wakeboard tricks."

Crystal Lake Park District/BMO Harris Bank Blast on the Beach

3-7 pm             Kids Fun Fair and Arts & Craft Fair

4-5 pm             Treasure Hunt in the Sand

4-5 pm             Bags Tournament

5:30-6:15 pm   Crystal Lake Water Ski Show

6:30-9:00 pm   live music performance by Mr. Myers

3:00-9:00 pm   Food vendors, beer & wine garden

For more information, please call 815-459-0680, ext 213, or email ccooke@crystallakeparks.org.

Words Of Wisdom

"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, the guarantee to everyone the free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it."

 --Thomas Jefferson

Government At Work

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15 –

8:15 a.m. – McHenry County Board Transportation Committee –

Meeting in the Main Conference Room of the Division of Transportation, 16111 Nelson Road, Woodstock.

The Committee will consider four resolutions including:

Resolution Awarding a Curb Repair Contract on Algonquin Road and Appropriating Funds for the project

Resolution Awarding a Culvert Replacement Contract on Main Street and Appropriating Funds for the project

Resolution Approving an Intergovernmental Agreement with the McHenry County Conservation District and Appropriation Funds for Wetland Mitigation for the Miller Road project.

Resolution approving a supplemental Engineering Services Agreement and appropriating funds for the Randall Road project.

9:00 a.m. – McHenry County Board Staff Platt Committee –

Meeting has been cancelled

1:00 p.m. – McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals ==

Meeting has been cancelled

6:00 p.m. – McHenry County Gravel Advisory Council –

Meeting in the Second Floor Conference Room, McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

A number of issues are to be discussed including,

Update on trucking and transportation issues in the county

Concerns brought to Council’s attention regarding gravel mining operation in Harvard

Update regarding McHenry County’s process of revising and consolidating its Zoning Subdivision and sign ordinances, as well as other development regulations to create a new Unified Development Ordinance

Review council members’ impressions of tour of sand & gravel mining and related industry operations in June.

New Business:

2013 APA Mobile Workshop in McHenry County: The sand and gravel industry – from mining operations to reclamation

Ideas for future Council educational or outreach activities.

6:15 p.m. – Crystal Lake Park District playground design input –

Crystal Lake Park District Administrative Office, One E. Crystal Lake Avenue, lower level.

6:30 p.m. –Woodland Estate Park information and discussion

7:30 p.m. – Ken Bird Park information and discussion

Both parks are slated for new design and playground equipment. For those who are unable to attend, comments may be provided to Park Planner Ann Viger at (815) 459-0680.

Words Of Wisdom

"[W]hen the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised by an artful man, - who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them; but that they should not do it openly, but weaken them, and let them sink gradually, by totally disusing and neglecting the militia."

--George Mason, speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788

Government At Work

TUESDAY, AUGUST 14 –

6:00 p.m. – Operations Committee of High School District 155 Board –

Meeting in the Center for Education, One South Virginia Road, Crystal Lake.

The committee will consider the status of summer projects along with a custodial supply bid, and preparations for opening of school for the 2012-2013 school year.

6:45 p.m. – Finance Committee of High School District 155 Board –

Meeting in the Center for Education, One South Virginia Road, Crystal Lake.

Only one item is listed on the agenda, FY13 Tentative Budget.

7:00 p.m. – Crystal Lake Park District- Special Park Board Meeting

This meeting has been cancelled.

7:00 p.m. – Village of Lakewood Board

This meeting has been cancelled. The next meeting scheduled is August 28, at 7:00 p.m. in the RedTail Golf Club, 7900 RedTail Drive, Lakewood. 

Government At Work

TUESDAY, AUGUST 14 –

8:30 a.m. – McHenry County Board Human Resources Committee—

Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

The committee is to consider two resolutions, one authorizing acceptance of a $75,027 grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services to provide a teen pregnancy prevention program, creation of a full time health educator position and an emergency appropriation to the FY 12 Health Department Budget.

Another resolution to be considered is authorizing a Workers Compensation Claim settlement.

9:30 a.m.—McHenry County Board Finance & Audit Committee –

Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

Nine resolutions are being presented for the Committee to consider and include:

Resolution Approving a supplemental engineering services agreement and appropriating funds for the Charles J. Miller Road Project, for an added amount of $265,451.16.

Resolution authorizing a budget line item transfer in the Division of Transportation FY 2011-2012 Budget for Fuel, Oil and Grease.

Resolution for an amount of $70,000.

Resolution authorizing a contract with Delta Institute to Provide Technical assistance in the Development of a Five-Year update to the McHenry County Solid Waste Plan. The cost for this is not to exceed $40,000.

Resolution authorizing a contract with Delta Institute to provide technical assistance in the development of a five-year update to the McHenry County Solid Waste Plan, for an amount not to exceed $40,000.

Resolution authorizing a budget line item transfer in the Planning & Development – Water Resources fiscal year 2012 budget for contractual services. This budget line item transfer is in the amount of $3,700 from Part Time Salaries to Contractual Services, all in the Planning and Development budget.

Resolution to approve an agreement between the County of McHenry and the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation to continue the services of the EDC to provide economic development services for the County.

Resolution authorizing acceptance of a $75,027 grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services o provide a teen pregnancy prevention program, creation of a full time health educator position and an emergency appropriation to the FY12 Health Department budget.

Resolution approving a Workers Claim Settlement totaling $130,418.38...

A resolution authorizing monthly transactions for the Delinquent Tax Program

A resolution authorizing the acceptance of the AmeriCorps Grant of $106,400

Resolution authorizing a budget line item transfer in the Supervisor of Assessments Department Fiscal Year 2012 budget.

11:00 a.m. – McHenry County Board Liquor and License Committee—

Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock

The committee will be considering two special liquor license requests for benefits being held by Helping Hannahs Heart Founding and Christ The King Catholic Church.

Also being considered are seven raffle permit requests for benefits to be held by BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center, Hooved Animal Humane Society, Wonder Lake Ski Show Team Organization, Northern Illinois Fire Museum, Spring Grove Firefighters Association, Pioneer Center for Human Services-two permits for two different dates.

County Nursing Home Doing Better Than In Past

Valley Hi Nursing Home is doing much better than in the past. According to a recent report to the County Board by Administrator Tom Annarella, For the first six months of this year, the revenue has exceeded the expenses and there should be approximately $875,000 over the expenses. There is no control available for what the state and federal governments provide for the nursing home funding.

Receipt of funds from governments can be sporadic. The Federal Government pays their bills on time, but there is an eight month wait for payment from the State.

Annarella reported to the County Board at a recent County Board meeting that the residents are given more say in what events go on. There Is also a resident food committee providing choices of meals.

Annarella also advised the Board that the new building will be paid off in January. The building located on the southeast corner of Nelson and Hartland Roads was constructed following a successful countywide referendum in 2002 which provided funding for the construction a new facility.

Crystal Lake Police Chief Linder Retiring Spring 2013

After almost 32 years with the City of Crystal Lake Police Department, Chief of Police David Linder has announced his retirement, planned for the Spring of 2013. This provides the City with ample opportunity to conduct a thorough nationwide search for a new Police Chief.

Chief Linder began his career with the Crystal Lake Department on September 1980 as a police officer eventually working his way through the ranks until his appointment as Chief of Police on September 6, 2005.

Chief Linder currently leads a very effective and efficient police agency,“ stated City Manager Gary Mayerhofer. “The Police Department has played a key role in enhancing our quality of life and making Crystal Lake a great place to live,”

A graduate of the FBI National Academy, Chief Linder has been a strong proponent of community and cooperative policing programs, including the North Central Narcotics Task Force, McHenry County Major Investigation Assistance Team, McHenry County Gang Task Force, High School Resource Officer Program, Neighborhood Watch, National Night Out, and Citizen Police Academy.

Walkup Avenue Update

South Section: Multiple storm sewer installations are in progress on IL Route 176 and Walkup. Earth excavation and aggregate placement continues on IL Route 176 and Walkup in preparation for curb placement. Wetland cell restoration is complete at Veteran Acres Park.  Frogs and other wildlife seem to be enjoying the restoration!   SEE PHOTOS.

North Section: Storm sewer installation work is continuing. Earth excavation and aggregate placement continues in preparation for curb placement.

Crystal Lake Public Library Future Plans

Future plans for Crystal Lake Public Library are continuing. The Planning and Public Relations Committees of the Library Board are meeting at 7 this evening in the Library Directors office.

Words Of Wisdom

"[T]he right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in the power of Man to alienate this gift, and voluntarily become a slave."

--John Adams

Be A Part Of Planning Neighborhood Parks

The Crystal Lake Park District is seeking input from interested residents on the design of new playground equipment for two parks. Woodland Estates Park (on Midline Drive in north Crystal Lake) and Ken Bird Park (on Village Rd. in south Crystal Lake) are scheduled for new playgrounds to be installed this fall.

Public meetings are being held on Wednesday, August 15 at the Crystal Lake Park District Administrative Office, One E. Crystal Lake Avenue in the lower level.  The Woodland Estate Park meeting will begin at 6:30 pm and the Ken Bird Park meeting will begin at 7:30 pm.

Attendees will have an opportunity to review and comment on preliminary concept plans for the playgrounds.  If you would like to comment but are unable to attend the meeting, please contact Ann Viger, Park Planner at (815) 459-0680 x 205 or Aviger@crystallakeparks.org.

Government At Work

MONDAY, AUGUST 13 –

8:30 a.m. – McHenry County Board Management Services Committee—

Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

A NACo Sustainability Representative will provide the committee members with a presentation on McHenry County’s Sustainability Efforts.

Budget reviews are slated for Facilities Management, Information Technology, GIS, Purchasing and Recorder of Deeds.

The Committee is being presented a Resolution for approval of a Workers’ Compensation Claim Settlement. Another resolution is to be considered setting the Holiday Schedule for 2013.

Under Old Business, the Committee is to consider a resolution entering into an agreement with Andy Frain Services, Inc. for Security Services for the McHenry County Administration Building.

7:00 p.m. – McHenry County Preservation Commission, --

Meeting in the Planning and Development Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

The Commission is to review the nomination of Mrs. Shirley Beene to Designate the Trout Valley Swimming Pool as a Local Landmark within the Village of Trout Valley. All the necessary actions for to handle this request are to be considered by the Commission.

 

Words Of Wisdom

"The ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone. ... The advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation ... forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition."

--James Madison (Federalist No. 46)